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Columbia, Mo. -- Columbia College announced it has surpassed its $10 million fundraising goal by nearly $1 million for Destination Excellence: The Sesquicentennial Campaign.

The capital campaign, which began in July 1998, officially concluded on Dec. 31, 2003 and provided Columbia College with a significant increase in endowed scholarships and programs and new and improved facilities. The capital campaign was the largest ever conducted by the institution. Through the efforts of more than 80 volunteers, more than 4,000 donors throughout the country helped the college surpass its campaign goal.

Campaign highlights include:

The endowment increased to more than $10 million -- double the amount from the start of the campaign;

$1.4 million was raised to meet a $1.2 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla. Funds will be used toward the construction of a new 23,000 square-foot student commons scheduled to open at the main campus in fall 2004;

An $825,000 bequest from the late Genevieve Koontz Buchanan, Class of 1938, will be used for scholarships. Buchanan, a long-time supporter of the college, provided the lead gift for Buchanan Hall, which houses the school's computer center, computer laboratories and classrooms;

More than $40,000 was raised toward the George Ann and Sidney Larson Scholarship in honor of Larson, a distinguished professor emeritus of art, and his late wife.

The Althea and John Schiffman Ethics in Society Lecture Series was launched and an endowed chair in ethics, religious studies and philosophy was created. The lecture series allows the college to bring speakers to campus to discuss topics related to ethics, religious studies and philosophy;

Southwell Complex was renovated and expanded into a 12,000 square-foot multipurpose athletic and recreational facility;

A multimedia classroom in Brown Hall was created, offering state-of-the-art technology for enhanced learning and teaching;

The number of alumni donors increased 38 percent from 1998 to 2003.

"Columbia College could not have exceeded its fundraising goals in Destination Excellence without the generosity of its donors," said President Gerald Brouder. "The achievements of Destination Excellence have positioned the college to continue offering traditional and nontraditional students a quality liberal arts and sciences education through new and improved facilities, programs and services."

Columbia College was founded in 1851 as Christian Female College, the first women's college chartered by a state legislature west of the Mississippi River. In 1970 the college changed its name and became a four-year coeducational private liberal arts and sciences institution. Today Columbia College serves more than 11,000 day, evening, graduate and online students at its main campus in Columbia, Mo., and at 30 extended campuses across the country.